Debates of Dec. 10th, 2012

Presence in Gallery

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

I would also like to draw to the attention of hon. members the presence in the gallery of Jacques Chagnon, the speaker of the Quebec National Assembly.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Finally, I would like to draw to the attention of members the presence in the gallery of the 2012 Government General's Canadian History Awards recipients.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

Oral Questions

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order relating to Standing Order 18 which indicates that no member shall speak disrespectfully of another member of this place when he or she is speaking. When the hon. member for Ahuntsic was asking her question, I heard a member, who I will not identify because I do not know who said it but it was said obviously to the member herself, clearly say the words “traitor in the House”.

All members of the House, no matter how much we may disagree with another member's agenda, are duly elected and all equal in the House. I would like to remind members that that kind of language is incendiary and unacceptable in the House.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

I thank the hon. member for raising the point. I echo her statements that inflammatory comments should not be made. In fact, no comments should be made when members are putting a question or answering a question, but especially those comments that could incite further unfestive activities that sometimes take place. It is certainly unparliamentary, that is for sure.

Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

It is my duty pursuant to Section 21 of the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act to lay upon the table a certified copy of the report of the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for the province of Prince Edward Island.

This report is deemed permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.

Government Response to Petitions

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to 22 petitions.

Interparliamentary Delegations

[Gord Brown, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville, ON]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1) I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the following reports of the Canadian delegation of the Canada-United States Interparliamentary Group respecting its participation at the following meetings: first, the Republican National Convention that was held in Tampa Bay, Florida, August 27 to 30; and second, the Democratic National Convention that was held in Charlotte, North Carolina, September 3 to 6.

Justice and Human Rights

[Dave MacKenzie, Conservative, Oxford, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 16th report of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights in relation to requesting an extension of 30 sitting days to consider Bill C-394, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the National Defence Act (criminal organization recruitment).

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Pursuant to Standing Order 97.1(3)(a) a motion to concur in the report is deemed moved, the question deemed put and a recorded division deemed demanded and deferred until Wednesday, December 12, immediately before the time provided for private members' business.

[Dave MacKenzie, Conservative, Oxford, ON]

I also have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 17th report of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights in relation to supplementary estimates (B), 2012-13, Votes 1b, 5b, 30b and 35b under Justice.

Public Accounts

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 10th report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts in relation to its study of chapter 1, Canada’s Economic Action Plan, of the fall 2011 report of the Auditor General of Canada.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109 the committee requests the government table a comprehensive response to this report.

Canadian Heritage

[Rob Moore, Conservative, Fundy Royal, NB]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the seventh report of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage in relation to supplementary estimates (B), 2012-13.

Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics

[Peter Van Loan, Conservative, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions among the parties and I believe you will find unanimous consent for the following motion:

That the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics be the designated committee for the purposes of Section 67 of the Conflict of Interest Act.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Does the hon. member have the unanimous consent of the House to move the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

The House has heard the terms of the motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

(Motion agreed to)

Foreign Affairs and International Development

[Peter Van Loan, Conservative, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 66(2) I am designating Wednesday, December 12 as the day on which the House will again consider the motion to concur in the seventh report of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development.

Citizenship and Immigration

[Hélène LeBlanc, NDP, LaSalle—Émard, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to present two petitions signed by a number of my constituents on behalf of a family that is at risk of being deported. The petitioners support the family and are calling on the Minister of Immigration to reconsider his decision on humanitarian and compassionate grounds.

Rights of the Unborn

[Stephen Woodworth, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour today to present a petition from residents of the riding of Haldimand—Norfolk.

The petitioners point out that Canada's 400-year-old definition of a human being says that a child does not become a human being until the moment of complete birth, contrary to 21st century medical evidence. They mention that Parliament has a solemn duty to reject any law that says some human beings are not human.

The petitioners call on the House of Commons to confirm that every human being is recognized by Canadian law as human by amending section 223 of the Criminal Code in such a way as to reflect 21st century medical evidence. About half of those 25 signatures are women.

I have a second petition to the same effect from the Oxford area with 75 signatures, 35 of them women.

I have a third petition from the same area, from Toronto, Mississauga and Burlington with 304 signatures, of which 154 are women.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

I am going to ask hon. members to keep their remarks very brief when presenting the petitions as there are many members standing to do so today.

The hon. member for Random—Burin—St. George's.

Search and Rescue

[Judy Foote, Liberal, Random—Burin—St. George's, NL]

Mr. Speaker, I stand to present a petition on behalf of people who attended the Fish & Work Boat Show 2012 in St. John's, Newfoundland, as well as members of the Canadian Marine Advisory Council.

The petitioners call on the government not to close the marine communications and traffic services centres throughout the country. In fact, we are looking at the closure of 10 of those centres, in addition to the closure of the centre in Inuvik in the Northwest Territories.

We have a search and rescue issue and safety is of paramount importance when travelling on the sea.